When is an ERP worthwhile?
An ERP suits SMEs with around ten or more employees who want to handle orders, purchasing, stock or production in a structured way. Typical signs:
- Data is kept in several lists.
- Information is entered more than once.
- Orders and stock are hard to keep track of.
- Processes depend on the knowledge of individual people.
- The existing solution no longer meets requirements.
How long does an ERP implementation take?
It depends on the scope. An implementation with the core modules usually takes three to six months. In the analysis we clarify how many modules, customisations and interfaces are needed. You then receive a concrete schedule.
What affects the duration?
- The number of modules, sites and companies.
- The extent of customisation beyond the standard.
- The number and complexity of interfaces, for example to a webshop, CRM or bank.
- The quality of the existing data.
- How much time your team can set aside for workshops, tests and decisions.
What do the costs depend on?
Costs consist of three parts: licences or a subscription for the software, services for analysis, setup, customisation, data migration and training, and ongoing costs for operation, support and updates. They depend on the same factors as the duration. Reliable figures can therefore only be given after the analysis.
Which steps does the implementation follow?
- Understand: we look at how you work, what runs well and where it gets stuck, and record your requirements.
- Plan together: we choose the right system and clarify functions, customisations, costs and schedule.
- Set up and test: we set up and customise the ERP, migrate the agreed data and test your key processes.
- Prepare the team: your employees learn the processes in the new system, and we support the launch.
- Support and extend: after the launch we support you day to day and plan extensions when requirements change.
How fast can it be? An example
Within six months, 3S Solar Plus AG introduced a new ERP system with Sage X3. Along the way, the company optimised its supply chain and eliminated shadow reporting. Today, all business processes in finance, supply chain and production management run on Sage X3, and payroll runs on Sage 200 Extra.
Standard or customisation?
The more the standard covers, the faster and cheaper the implementation. At Swissgenetics, according to Markus Zogg, Sage X3 already covers 80–90 per cent of the functions as standard, so the software could be adapted to their needs quickly and cost-effectively. Customisations pay off where they bring a real advantage. We show transparently what the standard delivers and where additional development or interfaces are needed.
Which systems need to be connected?
Typical examples are a CRM such as Salesforce for sales and service, an online shop, the bank for payments and Business Intelligence for reporting. The earlier these interfaces are known, the more reliable the schedule.
What role does your team play?
An ERP implementation only succeeds as a joint effort. A project lead on your side who brings decisions together has proven effective, plus a key user for each area who knows the processes. These people contribute their knowledge in workshops, test with real everyday cases and later pass on what they have learned to colleagues.
What happens to existing data?
We migrate customers, suppliers, items and open items from your previous systems or Excel lists, checked and cleaned.
What are the common pitfalls?
- Rebuilding existing processes one to one instead of simplifying them.
- Too many special requests where the standard would be enough.
- Underestimating the effort needed to clean up data.
- Planning too little time for testing and training.
- Scheduling the launch during the busiest time of the year.
Checklist before you start
- Record your goals: what should work better after the implementation?
- Assign responsibilities: project lead and key users for each area.
- Describe processes and exceptions, including the rare ones.
- Review your data: what will be migrated, what can be archived?
- List the interfaces: which systems need to be connected?
- Choose a quiet time window for the launch, often the change of financial year.
And after go-live?
We remain your point of contact: with support, training, updates and further development as new requirements arise. We implement customisations in an update-safe way so they are retained after a release.
Where should the ERP run?
Either on your own infrastructure or in a Swiss data centre, looked after by us. Read what to look out for in our guide Hosting in Switzerland. For the next step, you can reach us via the Work with us page.